Thanksgiving travel weather forecast: Unusually tranquil over much of U.S.

Precipitation potential through Thursday morning in the Pacific Northwest
(NOAA)
Unless you’re headed to the Pacific Northwest, travel weather conditions through Thanksgiving will be excellent throughout the U.S.

Since the weekend, the Pacific Northwest has been the lone trouble spot nationwide.

On Monday, coastal Oregon and Washington were rocked by hurricane force winds, torrential rain and unbelievable mountain snows. The winds were stronger than Superstorm Sandy’s according to University of Washington’s Cliff Mass, who offered this summary:

Or 111 mph at nearby Abernathy Mountain. Both of these sites are at roughly 2000 ft.

But even sites near sea level got blasted. Much of the southwest Washington coast and Oregon coast had wind gusts to 60-80 mph with extensive power outages and damage.

The forecast through Thanksgiving

From central California into Oregon and Washington state, rain and mountain snows continue into Wednesday before a break in the action Thanksgiving Day. Everywhere also, by and large, it’s dry.

Here’s a short summary of daily conditions complemented with graphical weather simulations from the GFS model through Thanksgiving.

Tuesday

High pressure dominates the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. while rain and mountain snow continues in the Pacific Northwest.

(WeatherBell.com)

Wednesday

Rain and mountain snow are ending in the Pacific Northwest with some mountain snow possible into Idaho and western Montana. Elsewhere, it’s dry thanks to high pressure.

(WeatherBell.com)

Thanksgiving

It’s dry across the entire country with the exception of parts of the Upper Midwest and western Great Lakes where a cold front may generate some light rain and snow showers.

(WeatherBell.com)

The amount of the country precipitation-free during this stretch is amazing. And it’s poised to last at least a few more days beyond Thanksgiving.

Black Friday through the weekend

Generally calm weather are forecast through Thanksgiving weekend with two exceptions:

1) A cold front will bring much cooler air to the eastern half of the country along with windy conditions Friday into Saturday. Along the shores of Lake Erie and Ontario, lake effect snows are possible.

2) The storm-weary Northwest will see another system move onshore Friday into Saturday.

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